President Jacob Zuma escaped graft allegations when prosecutors dropped charges relating to the 30 billion rand deal to buy European military equipment in the 1990s. But he has never quite escaped perceptions of impropriety over an arms transaction that saw his financial adviser jailed.

Former president Thabo Mbeki has also been implicated in the deal, which has been opened up to renewed scrutiny under an inquiry announced by Zuma last month.

"We lived with Gaddafi for 42 years. He never attacked our houses with his army," said another Sirte resident, sitting in his damaged house. "Muammar lived and died like a man," he added, Gaddafi's green flag still hoisted atop his house.